Beware of the day when you are returned to God, and every soul is paid for everything it had done, without the least injustice.
وَاتَّقوا يَومًا تُرجَعونَ فيهِ إِلَى اللَّهِ ثُمَّ تُوَفّىٰ كُلُّ نَفسٍ ما كَسَبَت وَهُم لا يُظلَمونَ
wattaqoo yawman turja’oona feehi ilal laahi summa tuwaffaa kullu nafsim maa kasabat wa hum laa yuzlamoon
(Write Down Financial Transactions)
O you who believe, when you transact a loan for any period, you shall write it down. An impartial scribe shall do the writing. No scribe shall refuse to perform this service, according to God’s teachings. He shall write, while the debtor dictates the terms. He shall observe God his Lord and never cheat. If the debtor is mentally incapable, or helpless, or cannot dictate, his guardian shall dictate equitably. Two men shall serve as witnesses; if not two men, then a man and two women whose testimony is acceptable to all.* Thus, if one woman becomes biased, the other will remind her. It is the obligation of the witnesses to testify when called upon to do so. Do not tire of writing the details, no matter how long, including the time of repayment. This is equitable in the sight of God, assures better witnessing, and eliminates any doubts you may have. Business transactions that you execute on the spot need not be recorded, but have them witnessed. No scribe or witness shall be harmed on account of his services. If you harm them, it would be wickedness on your part. You shall observe God, and God will teach you. God is Omniscient.
يٰأَيُّهَا الَّذينَ ءامَنوا إِذا تَدايَنتُم بِدَينٍ إِلىٰ أَجَلٍ مُسَمًّى فَاكتُبوهُ وَليَكتُب بَينَكُم كاتِبٌ بِالعَدلِ وَلا يَأبَ كاتِبٌ أَن يَكتُبَ كَما عَلَّمَهُ اللَّهُ فَليَكتُب وَليُملِلِ الَّذى عَلَيهِ الحَقُّ وَليَتَّقِ اللَّهَ رَبَّهُ وَلا يَبخَس مِنهُ شَيـًٔا فَإِن كانَ الَّذى عَلَيهِ الحَقُّ سَفيهًا أَو ضَعيفًا أَو لا يَستَطيعُ أَن يُمِلَّ هُوَ فَليُملِل وَلِيُّهُ بِالعَدلِ وَاستَشهِدوا شَهيدَينِ مِن رِجالِكُم فَإِن لَم يَكونا رَجُلَينِ فَرَجُلٌ وَامرَأَتانِ مِمَّن تَرضَونَ مِنَ الشُّهَداءِ أَن تَضِلَّ إِحدىٰهُما فَتُذَكِّرَ إِحدىٰهُمَا الأُخرىٰ وَلا يَأبَ الشُّهَداءُ إِذا ما دُعوا وَلا تَسـَٔموا أَن تَكتُبوهُ صَغيرًا أَو كَبيرًا إِلىٰ أَجَلِهِ ذٰلِكُم أَقسَطُ عِندَ اللَّهِ وَأَقوَمُ لِلشَّهٰدَةِ وَأَدنىٰ أَلّا تَرتابوا إِلّا أَن تَكونَ تِجٰرَةً حاضِرَةً تُديرونَها بَينَكُم فَلَيسَ عَلَيكُم جُناحٌ أَلّا تَكتُبوها وَأَشهِدوا إِذا تَبايَعتُم وَلا يُضارَّ كاتِبٌ وَلا شَهيدٌ وَإِن تَفعَلوا فَإِنَّهُ فُسوقٌ بِكُم وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَيُعَلِّمُكُمُ اللَّهُ وَاللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَىءٍ عَليمٌ
yaa ayyuhal lazeena aamanoo izaa tadaayantum bidaiynin ilaa ajalimmusamman faktubooh; walyaktub bainakum kaatibum bil’adl; wa laa yaaba kaatibun ai yaktuba kamaa ‘allamahul laah; falyaktub walyumlilil lazee ‘alaihil haqqu walyattaqil laaha rabbahoo wa laa yabkhas minhu shai’aa; fa in kaanal lazee ‘alaihil haqqu safeehan aw da’eefan aw laa yastatee’u ai yumilla huwa falyumlil waliyyuhoo bil’adl; wastash hidoo shaheedaini mir rijaalikum fa il lam yakoonaa rajulaini farajulunw wamra ataani mimman tardawna minash shuhadaaa’i an tadilla ihdaahumaa fatuzakkira ihdaahumal ukhraa; wa laa yaabash shuhadaaa’u izaa maadu’oo; wa laa tas’amooo an taktuboohu sagheeran awkabeeran ilaaa ajalih; zaalikum aqsatu ‘indal laahi wa aqwamu lishshahaadati wa adnaaa allaa tartaabooo illaaa an takoona tijaaratan haadiratan tudeeroonahaa bainakum falaisa ‘alaikum junaahun allaa taktuboohan; wa ashidooo izaa tabaaya’tum; wa laa yudaaarra kaatibunw wa laa shaheed; wa in taf’aloo fa innahoo fusooqum bikum; wattaqul laaha wa yu’allimu kumul laah; wallaahu bikulli shai’in ‘Aleem
*2:282 Financial transactions are the ONLY situations where two women may substitute for one man as witness. This is to guard against the real possibility that one witness may marry the other witness, and thus cause her to be biased. It is a recognized fact that women are more emotionally vulnerable than men.
If you are traveling, and no scribe is available, a bond shall be posted to guarantee repayment. If one is trusted in this manner, he shall return the bond when due, and he shall observe God his Lord. Do not withhold any testimony by concealing what you had witnessed. Anyone who withholds a testimony is sinful at heart. God is fully aware of everything you do.
وَإِن كُنتُم عَلىٰ سَفَرٍ وَلَم تَجِدوا كاتِبًا فَرِهٰنٌ مَقبوضَةٌ فَإِن أَمِنَ بَعضُكُم بَعضًا فَليُؤَدِّ الَّذِى اؤتُمِنَ أَمٰنَتَهُ وَليَتَّقِ اللَّهَ رَبَّهُ وَلا تَكتُمُوا الشَّهٰدَةَ وَمَن يَكتُمها فَإِنَّهُ ءاثِمٌ قَلبُهُ وَاللَّهُ بِما تَعمَلونَ عَليمٌ
wa in kuntum ‘alaa safarinw wa lam tajidoo kaatiban farihaanum maqboodatun fa in amina ba’dukum ba’dan falyu’addil lazi tumina amaa natahoo walyattaqil laaha Rabbah; wa laa taktumush shahaadah; wa mai yaktumhaa fa innahooo aasimun qalbuh; wallaahu bimaa ta’maloona ‘Aleem
To God belongs everything in the heavens and the earth. Whether you declare your innermost thoughts, or keep them hidden, God holds you responsible for them. He forgives whomever He wills, and punishes whomever He wills. God is Omnipotent.
لِلَّهِ ما فِى السَّمٰوٰتِ وَما فِى الأَرضِ وَإِن تُبدوا ما فى أَنفُسِكُم أَو تُخفوهُ يُحاسِبكُم بِهِ اللَّهُ فَيَغفِرُ لِمَن يَشاءُ وَيُعَذِّبُ مَن يَشاءُ وَاللَّهُ عَلىٰ كُلِّ شَىءٍ قَديرٌ
lillaahi maa fissamaawaati wa maa fil ard; wa in tubdoo maa feee anfusikum aw tukhfoohu yuhaasibkum bihil laa; fayaghfiru li mai yashaaa’u wa yu’azzibu mai yashaaa’u;wallaahu ‘alaa kulli shai in qadeer
(You Shall Not Make Any Distinction
Among God’s Messengers)
The messenger has believed in what was sent down to him from his Lord, and so did the believers. They believe in God, His angels, His scripture, and His messengers: “We make no distinction among any of His messengers.” They say, “We hear, and we obey.* Forgive us, our Lord. To You is the ultimate destiny.”
ءامَنَ الرَّسولُ بِما أُنزِلَ إِلَيهِ مِن رَبِّهِ وَالمُؤمِنونَ كُلٌّ ءامَنَ بِاللَّهِ وَمَلٰئِكَتِهِ وَكُتُبِهِ وَرُسُلِهِ لا نُفَرِّقُ بَينَ أَحَدٍ مِن رُسُلِهِ وَقالوا سَمِعنا وَأَطَعنا غُفرانَكَ رَبَّنا وَإِلَيكَ المَصيرُ
aamanar-Rasoolu bimaaa unzila ilaihi mir-Rabbihee walmu’minoon; kullun aamana billaahi wa Malaaa’ikathihee wa Kutubhihee wa Rusulihee laa nufarriqu baina ahadim-mir-Rusulih wa qaaloo sami’naa wa ata’naa ghufraanaka Rabbanaa wa ilaikal-maseer
*2:285 One of the major commandments is: “You shall not make any distinction among God’s messengers” (2:136, 3:84, 4:150). The believers react by saying, “We hear and we obey,” while the idol worshipers argue back to justify their insistence upon mentioning Muhammad’s name next to God’s, to the exclusion of all other messengers. The corrupted Muslims mention Muhammad in their profession of faith (Shahaadah) and during their Contact Prayers (see 72:18).
God never burdens a soul beyond its means: to its credit is what it earns, and against it is what it commits. “Our Lord, do not condemn us if we forget or make mistakes. Our Lord, and protect us from blaspheming against You, like those before us have done. Our Lord, protect us from sinning until it becomes too late for us to repent. Pardon us, forgive us, [and have mercy on us]*. You are our Lord and Master. Grant us victory over the disbelieving people.”
لا يُكَلِّفُ اللَّهُ نَفسًا إِلّا وُسعَها لَها ما كَسَبَت وَعَلَيها مَا اكتَسَبَت رَبَّنا لا تُؤاخِذنا إِن نَسينا أَو أَخطَأنا رَبَّنا وَلا تَحمِل عَلَينا إِصرًا كَما حَمَلتَهُ عَلَى الَّذينَ مِن قَبلِنا رَبَّنا وَلا تُحَمِّلنا ما لا طاقَةَ لَنا بِهِ وَاعفُ عَنّا وَاغفِر لَنا وَارحَمنا أَنتَ مَولىٰنا فَانصُرنا عَلَى القَومِ الكٰفِرينَ
laa yukalliful-laahu nafsan illaa wus’ahaa; lahaa maa kasabat wa ‘alaihaa maktasabat; Rabbanaa laa tu’aakhiznaaa in naseenaaa aw akhtaanaa; Rabbanaa wa laa tahmil-‘alainaaa isran kamaa hamaltahoo ‘alal-lazeena min qablinaa; Rabbanaa wa laa tuhammilnaa maa laa taaqata lanaa bih; wa’fu ‘annaa waghfir lanaa warhamnaa; Anta mawlaanaa fansurnaa ‘alal qawmil kaafireen
*2:286 The statement [and have mercy on us] occurs in the original Arabic Quran after “forgive us” and is not included in the English translation.